The Political Will … the Lack of it

The crux of the matter is the Political Will. In capital letters. The lack of it, that is.

Many of the problems of unity in the country can be solved in ways most politicians know how to. It’s only a matter of whether there is the will to do so. Or it’s more convenient to find ways to circumvent them. It’s the calculations for the votes that is all important to the politicians. Hence, it was said, “Single-stream schooling will be implemented when the rakyat wants it”. Without saying how to determine whether the rakyat wants it now or not. Never mind the fact that Article 152 of the Constitution says Bahasa Malaysia is the National Language. And vernacular schools do not use it as the medium of instruction.

Or they say, “the 30% Bumiputera equity target will be retained”. Without spelling out that the New Economic Policy (NEP) is being continued fully in the New Economic Model (NEM). Or not applying the Sedition Act against those who call for the abolition of the 30% Bumi equity target. The call being made even after the announcement in Parliament that it would be retained. Nothing was done beyond just telling the general public not to raise sensitive issues. It went to the extent of becoming farcical.

We rarely agree with the views expressed by Sakmongkol AK47. But this time we do. On the matter of political will stated in his article reproduced below.

With the political will not there, even the civil servants are said not to be co-operating. Frustrating the wishes of the political masters, as implied in the third article below. And the writer went to town and dug all the shit he could find. And poured it in the Sin Chew article below.

Then an opposition party Member of Parliament with a PhD says he is giving his two cents worth. The last article below is worth precisely that. Writing about patriotism without mentioning the Constitution as a basis of loyalty and love for the country is meaningless. It’s like saying one is loyal and patriotic simply because one utters the words “I love my country” a hundred times. Or that one pays tax. Or flies the flag.

That is the stuff of the average guy. Not someone with a PhD. And an MP who is supposed to provide leadership, guidance and appropriate advice to his supporters. Quoting an environmentalist that patriotism means defending the country against the government. Quoting Voltaire that it is OK to be wrong when perceiving the Government is wrong. Stuff that inspired a revolution – the French Revolution. In the Malaysian context, it’s a lot of political hogwash. And he belongs to the Islamic party, PAS. In cahout with the racist party, DAP. Racist because their so-called Malaysian Malaysia slogan is subversive to the Special Position of the Malays and the Bumiputeras of Sabah and Sarawak. Opposed the New Economic Policy. Calling for equality without acknowledging that in this country equality must take into account the Malay and Bumiputera Special Position which is enshrined in the Constitution.

Does he not notice the section of the citizenry which does not respect Articles 152 and 153 of the Constitution, the Social Contract? Those who alienate themselves by insisting on vernacular schools and disregarding Bahasa Malaysia as the National Language? Those who even dare to ask, seditiously, that the 30% Bumiputera equity target be abolished, making others react by asking that similar action be done to their citizenship? Those who shout to one another in Parliament and one even climbed the table, stood up on the table in full State Legislative Assembly uniform shouting at opponents, leading to the Sultan of Perak publicly drawing their attention to such rowdy behaviour? That these are the reasons for the lack of enthusiasm on Merdaka and National Day among that section of the population?

Let’s discuss these. Readers are invited to read the comments and the replies to them as well. A lot of our thoughts and opinions are stated there. And do join in the discussions. However much or little you may want to say. Welcome.

The people who wrote the NEM say, the heart of the model is the political will of the government. In simpler language, it means the government must be ready to not spare the rod.

So far, it has shown a lot of slacks in this department. The PM as the principal driver, has shown himself to be in a state of perpetual diffidence; he can’t control the UMNO enforcers, he is easily spooked by Perkasa and is seen to be over eager to please non Malay demands. He believes the success of the NEM and ETP depends on the involvement and support of the non bumis.

The sad part is, that’s true. Which group is more economically adaptive and will respond to the ‘incentivize’ plans of the government? Which group has better stock of knowledge workers? Which group is more competitive? The non bumis.

So what do you do to the to-be-marginalized group? Najib has not addressed this issue sufficiently. It is causing him minus marks. Even UMNO people are questioning his Malay credentials. He is more absorbed into showy PR exercises. He is eager to champion his new philosophy of 1 Malaysia where our ethnic and cultural diversity will be strategically leveraged.

But you have to solve the basic economic issues. You can’t write in special positions and such things into economics. You have to devise programs, policies to help them. Policies, and actions help them earn income, not having some provisions written in. so you come up with the nebulous concept of market friendly affirmative action. What is this? If you are already market friendly and driven, you don’t need a special category of market friendly affirmative action.

In other words you are saying, you don’t have any solid policies to help out the 40% base. But you have policies for the top 20%. For the bottom 40% you have market friendly affirmative action. For the top 20%, you actually have projects for them dropping as it were, like manna from heaven.

In this sense, when the NEAC recommends that the government must have solid political will, it is right. It must have the heart of steel to break the logjam of vested interests. It is also right to point out that the opposition will come mainly from people who are beneficiaries of rent seeking activities.

While it is right in this aspect, it is wrong in identifying those people with the vested interests. Perkasa? Miss by a mile.

The main beneficiaries are ganging up in support of the NEM to ensure that remain beneficiaries and stakeholders to the new plan. bankers, big contractors, direct negotiation bidders, the government’s business partners are all there to celebrate the hallelujah-ing the ETP show.

Here is one big contradiction. The NEM and ETP are crafted by technocrats. They say, we must have political will. They also say we must have a process of engagement. Here is the contradiction.

The political will or its lacking are explained by non politicians. Asking 3000 people to come for an exceedingly expensive sandwich party can hardly qualify as a process of engagement and dissemination of the ideas of the NEM. Because it isn’t done by politicians or through political channels, it will not have the power backing. The survival of the NEM, the ETP and whatever catchphrases therein, depend on political backing.

The sponsors and promoters of the NEM and ETP have displayed ignorance in not having these two ‘projects’ communicated by the political machinery..

The majority of the UMNO members, who provide the steel to the heart are not even aware what is the NEM or the ETP. Yet, these will impact on them the most- since they are direct beneficiaries of government big push of strategic policies.

Come on baby, light my fire.

The wheels of the NEM are of course the SRIs- strategic reform initiatives. Phew!

Fire up the private sector so that they will invest in high value added products and services. But of course- the 43-50 billion MRT is a valued added product and service. It is a valuable plan for the sponsors of the plan.

The large property development projects involving government land – that is also a high tech value added investment. That would certainly fire the voracious and nefarious appetites of gatekeepers and vested interest groups.

We want to develop quality workforce. Start with raising entry level qualification of those going into government jobs. We must find people who are paid well and won’t complain as overworked and underpaid. You get paid commensurate with the qualifications you have.

The NEAC extols the creating of competitive domestic economy. Of course again by employing cutting edge methods such as the Swiss challenge method. Hence MMC-Gamuda for example is invited to propose the building of MRT. Others are invited to counter offer and the first proposer has the first right of refusal. Who are the ‘others’?

But here is the clearest indication of lack of political will.

The Council will now seek and incorporate feedback and collaborate with all stakeholders over the next few months to further analyse and detail the policy measures and implementation frameworks.

In other words baby, it is still the age of government knows best. Unfortunately, it’s a government that is not sure of its top down policies.

NEM – Najib’s Economic Policies

As far as economic policies to deal with Malays are concerned, thus far, Najib’s policies are invisible. We don’t see specifics beyond the stylized phrase- market friendly affirmative action.

Tun Razak was a focused man. He was PM. He thought hard about Malay economics. He was connected. In Najib’s case, we get a different picture. He hasn’t got that connection. I don’t know who advises him on economic policies. Maybe it’s the NEAC. Or maybe its McKinsey Consulting group. Maybe its Omar Ong and associates who has earned big money to buy himself a bachelor pad worth RM 15 million. Who knows?

The recent carnival-like show, with PowerPoint shots and copious flow of refreshments and energized emceeing ala Jobs or Tom Peters, bear the hallmarks of typical business school presentations. In that sense, Najib has abdicated thought leadership. he wasn’t there, preferring the economic plans to be crafted by consultants and presented by the most junior minister.

I would have thought, an economic plan of this magnitude must near the personal imprimatur of the PM himself. It should be the PM himself acting as chief coach the other day. But then maybe it’s all part of his strategy- to have the ability to disown aspects of the ETP if they proved to be unpalatable to the public. Belum muktamad.

The new economic model is the alternative approved by Dato Najib to supplant the NEP-like policies. NEP-like policies are policy instruments and not economic theories. We need to recognize these. Tun Razak the architect of the NEP recognized the limitations of unbridled free market economy, with respect to the circumstances by which Malays find themselves in. By circumstances we mean, the overall social, cultural and even political enabling environment that shape the Malay mind and his actions.

These were probably what Tun Razak discovered when he started the NEP. The Malay has the same maximizing postulates but with different emphasis. Let’s say, for convenient sake, the Malay values graceful living more. By that we mean, he will not go overboard so as to sacrifice personal comfort for that extra income. If he can earn sufficient to keep body and soul intact, he will not overextend to make the body satisfied at the expense of the soul’s discomfort.

Let us further say, even though we don’t fault the Malay for having this mindset, we feel its not right and supportive of our desire to build a prosperous country. For that we need a precocious, acquisitive and aggressive spirit. We want to cultivate the willingness to sacrifice personal comfort, adopting a philosophy of wanting to. Wanting more, wanting better, wanting bigger. Always improving on the existing order of things.

How do we re-engineer the conventional Malay mindset? Has the PM applied his mind to address this particular issue? If he doesn’t, he is dangerously close to abandoning Tun Razak’s legacy?

The civil service with its 1.29 million staff should be the implementation engine to generate the success of the Government Transformation Plan (GTP), the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) and the 1Malaysia concept. Unfortunately, many civil servants do not seem too enthusiastic or passionate enough, and also lack the essential quality and skills to contribute substantially to these programmes and associate projects.

How could the civil servants help the country to transform into a high-income economy if they have no discipline, sense of moral values on what is right or wrong, professional ethics, and broad worldview?

The case involving syabu worth RM250 million is the best negative example. Four police officers were awarded and promoted for refusing bribes offered by the drug suspects. However, the four officer were later found to have secretly stolen four packs of syabu as a “reward” for themselves.

Based on the principle of natural justice that “the benefit of doubt shall be given to the defendant”, the drug accused Lee Yong Toe was acquitted.

Meanwhile, the police officers accused having been involved in the theft of 40kg of drugs that were meant to be court exhibits were merely let off by having their pay increment and promotion frozen. The light punishment, if it could be called a punishment, is simply outrageous, and reflects a sickening cronyism in the public service.

It is surely a worrying trend that power abuse and corruption are seemingly becoming the general civil service culture.

Several senior civil servants were charged with corruption, but many of them were acquitted due to technicalities or poor investigative evidence, whether genuine or deliberate.

In addition, lengthy procedures and red tapes are involved for actions to be taken against civil servants who have committed wrongdoings. For example, no action has been taken yet against the school principals who have made racist remarks, on the flimsy and ridiculous excuse that the Education Minister has no power to act on them.

If corruption and power abuses have become the habits of the public domain, it is impossible to achieve the National Key Result Area of combating graft.

Management Science has stated that “execution is the discipline of getting things done”. There will be no execution power without discipline and the most important element to promote economic restructuring is execution.

Chief Justice Tun Zaki Azmi has personally observed the lack of discipline among civil servants during an incognito tour. Many civil servants were eating at the cafeteria and court clerks were caught sleeping during office hours, while pots, gas barrels, stoves and sauces were found in conference rooms as some civil servants have actually turned the conference rooms into kitchens! When he sat at the front desk one morning, he found that many court staff members came in late for work.

Zaki described what he saw and heard “crazy”. However, there should be more crazy things out there, including paying RM5,700 for a car jack worth RM50 and the Bureau Tata Negara’s (BTN) refusal to listen to advice.

BTN officers have not learned a lesson from the outbreak of controversy over racist curriculum in December 2009, and the resignation of Datuk Nasir Safar, a former aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, over his racist remarks. They just continue blustering. It certainly is an act of indiscipline.

How can a public service team with declining discipline executes major policies?

Moreover, the country is undergoing an unusual period filled with political chaos, people trying to fish in troubled waters, extreme racists clamours and the confrontation between the BN and the Pakatan Malaysia. Therefore, the 1.29 million of civil servants must keep a clear head. If they are unable to distinguish between public and private interests and just follow Malay rights group Perkasa to wallow in the mire, it will only make things worse.

If the civil servants remain unchanged, how are they going to implement the transformation plans? It is indeed a big dilema for the Najib administration.

by Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, a member of the PAS central working committee and MP of Kuala Selangor.

SEPT 4 — I did not want to write anything on the 53rd Merdeka Day this year. For the more discerning sections of the rakyat, the spate of events that preceded it spoke for themselves. But with the Malaysia Day on September 16 drawing close, it doesn’t benefit anyone to remain under a self-imposed gag-order. This writer is back in his combative, engaging mood to share his two sen’s worth.

Despite the efforts of showcasing the Merdeka Celebration as a “burst of patriotism, a sight to behold and a moment to cherish” by the Barisan Nasional-mainstream media, many would disagree that it was a phenomenon that went beyond the confine of the walls of Stadium Putra in Bukit Jalil. Very sad indeed.

Its absence was even more palpable nationwide and it doesn’t take much convincing to arrive at that conclusion either. But the fundamental question to address is, “Why?”

What has become of the patriotism of the entire citizenry, you may like to ask?

Why are we no longer willing to voluntarily and spontaneously express and exhibit our love for our nation, to support and defend its cause with devotion? Isn’t that the universal definition of a patriot? Has it been become obsolete for now? No! Is it still valid? Yes! But why aren’t we capable of showing all this anymore? Why has it gone stale, if not entirely dead?

The answers to these million ringgit questions lie in the very questions themselves. The state of voluntarism and spontaneity in expressing love and devotion for the nation has a lot to do with one’s conviction.

One’s conviction, in turn, defines one’s attitude and invariably value-judgment. You cannot impose and compel perception, much less conviction, in others. Compulsion is very much against the nature of love and devotion. Compulsion breeds hypocrisy, the anti-thesis of true love and a disease that betrays devotion.

Lest I am misunderstood, let it be clear that I am not demanding that patriotism be revisited but, more importantly, contextualised. It is a timeless moral precept worthy of embodiment. What remains debatable and the bone of contention is how to express and exhibit patriotism specific to one’s political and historical context.

Historically, the challenge of achieving independence from the colonial British had rallied and galvanised the nation from all walks of life and ideological persuasions. Despite their diversity, the founding fathers and their generation strived and heavily sacrificed their all to attain independence in their respective ways. It was perhaps patriotism at its best.

Five decades later, the symbolism has been reduced to waving the Jalur-Gemilang and episodically parading of our youths and uniformed security forces to demonstrate discipline and resolve to defend the country.

Quite evidently, this symbolism of the post-colonial era could no longer hold the nation together, much to the disgust of our leaders. Needless to say, patriotism is surely more than flag-flying at places of business, in house compounds and on motor vehicles.

The nation is now in a severe state of despondency, and embattled with unending crisis. It is in dire need of rejuvenation in its concept and embodiment of patriotism. Not only has it to grapple with the ever challenging global economy and its uncertainties, the systemic rot as a result of subversion of all critical institutions has exacerbated the nation’s decline in competitiveness.

The country, recognised by World Bank as one of the richest nations on earth by way of resource per capita, is languishing in myriad uncertainties and under-performance.

The grim and gloomy outlook seems never-ending. What the rakyat never seemed to understand is why the endemic corruption and leakages continue unabated. And why, despite the many high-sounding mantras of inclusivity and market-friendly approaches of the prime minister, is the nation still beholden to an “affirmative action policy” that eventually only favours a few business elites well-connected to the power-that-be. Why is the divide between the haves and have-nots yawning further post-NEP?

As if that isn’t enough to keep the rakyat in a beleaguered state, the BN-leaders under the premiership of Datuk Seri Najib Razak seem least concerned if the country is torn apart by the spate of race-hate politics that they seem to engender.

We are now mired in racial-hatred and antagonism as never before. Seeing the racial divide widen sickens me and a good many of us, save the racial bigots that strive and thrive in racism.

Going by the spectre of racial-slurs, inflammatory and venomous rhetoric of political leaders and many other prominent people — most unexpectedly from heads of schools — the nation stands numb in thinking of what lies ahead for them and theirs.

As we celebrate this auspicious anniversary, we seemed mired in increasingly rabid and insulting racism, which greatly threatens our already flimsy unity and precarious contrasting diversity.

Perhaps it was never very good anyway in the recent past, but it has surely become a lot worse of late. Never has the rakyat witnessed anything resembling this before, save of course the scourge of May 13, 1969. Without attempting to enumerate the various events, as it pains us further every time it is repeated, you shudder at the thought of what might be the grand finale of it all. God forbid!

The nation, now apparently caught in a transition politics of change and reform, demands that leaders shall no longer turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to the many troubling and turbulent state of the nation.

With this changing landscape of evolving New Politics and a nascent two-party system slowly yet surely being put in place, I now implore that the timeless moral imperative of patriotism be similarly contextualised and revisited as a national dialogue in the public sphere. It has to be crafted to resonate with the changing political context and challenges of an agenda of nation-rebuilding.

The rakyat is ready to be liberated with information and knowledge, to become a well-informed citizenry that will put into practise the knowledge-based politics that will safeguard the interests of the nation. The rakyat shall no longer be beholden to the powers-that-be.

The maxim of the New Politics dictates that it is the rakyat that are the real stake-holders and the actual owners of democracy, as it is in their power to elect and give their mandate to the government of the day. Incidentally that has always been the notion and narrative of representative democracy.

Therefore the rakyat shall not be cowed to abide and support the government when they commit mistakes, and worse still, if they are adamant in abusing their power. Voltaire aptly puts it that “It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.”

I now invoke and paraphrase the notable quote of Mark Twain’s, a famous writer who said, “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.”

In the context of our current political scenario, it is perhaps pertinent to put the issue to rest conclusively by paraphrasing Edward Abbey, a writer and environmentalist: “A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government”.

Bluntly, it is points outlined above that I propose as the meaning of patriotism in the context of the New Politics for a renewed Malaysia

Najib and his government mustn’t be in denial nor flip-flop on critical policies that affect the survival of this nation. The rakyat has now become awakened by the power of New Politics driven by the pervasive alternative media. They are relentlessly demonstrating tremendous desire for arresting the many malaises and correcting the many wrongs of the government.

Given the current political-economic backdrop of the nation, it would be foolhardy for Najib’s BN government to expect exuberant patriotism to be spontaneously exhibited by the rakyat. As now it is beneficial for leaders of both sides of the divide to come to grasp with the challenging task of genuine nation-rebuilding and reform.

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Wira(16:52:54) :

The writer says “He (Najib) believes the success of the NEM and ETP depends on the involvement and support of the non bumis. The sad part is, that’s true.”

Isn’t it true that the success also depends on the Bumis? If the Bumis find that the NEM and ETP is more in favour of the rich and generally well-off Chinese, not much benefit to the Malays who have been left far behind by British colonial rule, won’t the Malays make noise endlessly that would erode the confidence of the people in Najib, UMNO and the BN?

We agree that the success of the NEM and the ETP also depends on the Bumiputeras, who may object in more ways that one if the NEP is not clearly and fully contained in the NEM. As you said, they have been left far behind and after 40 years of NEP, have achieved only 18% corporate wealth. And their target share in other aspects of the economic wealth of the country has not been determined. It has been said that they barely have 10% of ownership of commercial buildings and residential properties.

PM DS Najib must really show the political will to protect and promote the rights and interests of the Malays and the Bumiputeras of Sabah and Sarawak. UMNO has been formed over 50 years ago to protect the interests of the Malays. He cannot be paying more attention on the interests of the others. The Malays and the Bumis are the overwhelming majority in the country. His running after votes must not be at the expense of the interests of the Malays and the Bumis.

People have been writing comparing him and his father, Tun A Razak. His father was well respected and left a huge legacy for the Malays which he tried to promote, and for unity in the country through balancing the economic and educational position of the minority Chinese and the majority Malays. The NEP has been gaining momentum these last 40 years and any attempt to thwart its progress will meet the wrath of the Malays. Already some have been saying that, if the MCA-sponsored economic seminar participants want the 30% Bumi equity target abolished, their citizenship should also be abolished.

This certainly is not good for goodwill, harmony and unity. MCA, a member of the ruling coalition at that. They must stop doing such things so as to avoid the tit for tat consequences. Najib must haul such people calling for abolition of the Bumi equity target under the Sedition Act. It certainly is seditious as it creates ill feelings among the Malays and the Bumis of Sabah and Sarawak.

Political will should exist on the part of everybody. Not just the Government in power but also the opposition. When there are issues of national interest, all should close rank. But in times like now, one wonders what to the politicians are issues of national interest. I wonder what happens if some country wants to attack us militarily tomorrow.

I see some people speak about loyalty and patriotism. But has the Government ever embarked on a program of explaining what those words mean? Apart from asking people to turn up at National Day parades, wave flags and the like.

Indeed, political will must exist among all political parties. The problem has been divergence in opinion on what constitutes actions that require huge sacrifices, and therefore, huge will to do or not do. The Government and their policies, the opposition and their agenda. True, there have hardly been situations where all parties close ranks or work together to fight for national integrity.

It’s a moot point as to whether all parties rallied behind the Malaysian flag during the undeclared war with Indonesia, called Confrontation, in the early 1960s. Rallying behind the flag is also required when not at war. At times of heightened racial feelings, for example. We must avoid another May 13 racial riots. The country has been experiencing increasing racial polarisation in the last sevaral years. It’s time now that political parties look less at votes but more on activities that can get the citizens together. It’s easier said than done. But we have to begin somewhere. Let’s hope leaders of political parties think about such things sometimes. And not think of exploiting the situation primarily for their own individual or group advantage.

The Government can begin by starting a program of explaining about loyalty and patriotism. In all forms of mass media. A campaign of capturing the hearts and minds of the people on the major issues at stake. Planned and conducted by people well qualified and experienced in dealing with the mass media. Even in psychological warfare. That which would help in winning the hearts and minds of the general populace to the need to respect, abide by and live with the Constitution of the country.

I have been wondering if they have finalised the NEM. In March they said NEM was being “aired” for comments until June. Now sakmongkol says “The Council will now seek and incorporate feedback and collaborate with all stakeholders over the next few months to further analyse and detail the policy measures and implementation frameworks”. Does this mean not yet finalised?

It does seem so because he also wrote “But then maybe it’s all part of his strategy – to have the ability to disown aspects of the ETP if they proved to be unpalatable to the public. Belum muktamad.”

I do want to see the NEP clearly in the NEM. I think it is necessary to have a level playing field for long-term peace and harmony. PM Najib should have the political will to see to that. After all, the Malays and the Bumis of Sabah and Sarawak constitute nearly 70 of the population and have been left far behind by British colonialism.

It does appear that the New Economic Model (NEM) of PM Najib is not yet finalised. It does appear that Najib wants “to have the ability to disown aspects of the ETP if they proved to be unpalatable to the public”. He wants to play safe. Quite a number of people have associated him with Durex, the contraceptive. Unkind, but perhaps fits in with the lack of a political will to assert himself and implement bold policies for unity in the country.

There are instances where it becomes obvious that he wants to promote the interests of the minority Chinese for the sake of votes, and not the interests of the overwhelming majority Malays and the Bumiputeras of Sabah and Sarawak. Under these circumstances he would not have the political will to muscle in the NEP fully in the NEM. But the Malays and are expecting him to show and carry out bold affirmative action policies that would bridge the huge economic and educational gap between the minority Chinese and the majority Malays.

Aand the political will to tell those asking for the abolishment of the 30% equity target for the Malays be hauled in under the Sedition Act. That was clearly a violation of the Act and should be dealt with early to avoid the Malays asking for their citizenship be abolished in return. If not nipped in the bud, the highly contentious matter will linger on, might even be hightened. And it is not good for racial harmony and national unity.

The writer appears to have his own agenda. He used to be writing profusely supporting the UMNO Youth Leader, who was elected by about a third of the Youth delegates but obviously unpopular to the Malay public at large, and not given any Cabinet or official appointment. The Youth Leader was found guilty of money politics but somehow allowed by the Party to contest. This writer was projecting the Youth Leaders’s image during the UMNO elections and after that when talk of Cabinet appointments was going on.

The UMNO Youth Leader also criticised Perkasa. One therefore does not expect any good word about Perkasa from him. He himself was once a Pahang State Assemblyman. His viws were a lot different from mainstream UMNO. Including on the NEP which was designed to promote Malay interests. He was not given the opportunity to serve a second term. Perhaps he, too, needs the political will to refrain from saying things that are injurious to Malay interests. Interests injured are not helpful to the cause of national unity. It’s not “a better place to live in” when your interests are injured by your own kind, in addition to by the others.

The UMNO enforcers probably refer to those in UMNO holding official positions either as Ministers, Deputies, or as Heads of statutory bodies and GLCs. It certainly does not include the UMNO Youth Leader, who does not have any such position. He definitely would be a poor “UMNO enforcer” if given any of such positions. In this respect, PM Najib may be said to have shown his political will – he has not gievn the man any official position. Many views have been, and continue to be, expressed against the idea of making this man an “UMNO enforcer”.

Before you talk about love for the nation or patriotism, you must first talk about loyalty to the nation. Without loyalty, there is no love. Plain and simple. At whatever level.

But the Phd MP did not say a word about loyalty. Instead he said “… voluntarily and spontaneously express and exhibit our love for our nation, to support and defend its cause with devotion.” And asked “Isn’t that the universal definition of a patriot?”

If his wife is not loyal to him, would he believe she loves him? Would she defend him and protect him with her … watever, if need be?

How to know if the wife is loyal? Not just by using spies, man. Assess her words, attitudes, actions and whether she would sleep with you each and every time, even if you are exhausted from an outstation trip and goes to bed without bathing, hahaha.

Indeed, there is no patriotism without loyalty and no loyalty without love, a sense of belonging. Patriotism is a feeling of belonging to, of liking the country, of loving it so much that one is prepared to die for the country if the need arises. Throughout history, people went to wars to protect their country. They volunteer to serve in the military to fight the enemy. Americans have been doing that for ages. Many non-citizens or Green Card holders in America may have volunteered to fight the Vietnam, the Ieaq or the Afghan wars for the prospect of getting American citizenship after service, but the fact remains that they like their country of residence so much that they were willing to risk their lives to get the citizenship of that country.

Here in Malaysia, many have pointed out the “free citizenship” given to about a million of “others” or a quarter of the population after independence in 1957. And now there is a big problem among many of them of not even respecting the Constitution, the Social Contract enered into among the leaders of the various communities pre-independence, and some even dared to ask the 30% Bumi equity be abolished. That is not right. That creates ill feelings. That is seditious. That does not show loyalty, because the measure of loyalty is respect for the Constitution. The word patriotism does not apply to these people at all.

Loyalty must be based on an assessment of the citizen’s words and actions in respect of the Constitution of the country they say they are citizens of. There’s no other suitable measure. Displaying the Malaysian flag, attendance at Independence and National Day rallies, standing to attention when the National Anthem is played are the outward forms of expression of loyalty. But what is of utmost importance is the person’s acceptance and respect for the very basis on which this country stands, that on which it was founded – the Constitution. If any citizen cannot accept that fully, especially the provisions that are protected under the Sedition Act, he or she does not deserve the citizenship they claim t have.

Of course, a far as the opposition Islamic Party MP article writer is concerned, the political will needed of him is to speak and write based on a strict interpretation of the Constitution, giving due regard to the historical and current situation in the country. It’s well and fine to talk about Voltaire and his influence leading to the French Revolution long ago. But surely he is aware conditions in this country are far different from those in France prior to the Revolution. And why has he not given due regard to the multi-racial nature of our problems in this country and suggest solutions other than calling the people to go against the legally and, more importantly, the democratically constituted authority in the country. He should be analysing unity problems among the Malays themselves i.e PAS, UMNO and PKR, find the common denominators, talk about uniting them, and then about inter-racial unity in the citizenry.

Do tell me if asking the 30% Bumi equity be abolished is not seditious. What then is the definition of sedition under the Sedition Act?

Do tell me oso if that is not racist. Isnt that being antagonistic? You people have been defining racism being antagonistic to other races. Isn’t asking the 30% be abolished not being antagonistic to the Malays and the Bumis?

Why then no action taken against the MCA Economic Congress? Then when there was reaction asking to abolish their citizenship, mahu marah. Macam mana mahu aman macam ni?

Let’s have peace. Let’s respect each other. Let’s not touch on others’ sensitivities.

Section 3(e) of the Sedition Act 1948 refers to words and actions that “promote feelings of ill will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Malaysia”. It is therefore seditious to call for the abolition of the 30% Bumi equity target because it clearly promotes feelings of ill will between the Malays and the Chinese. Those making the resolution calling for the abolition were Chinese participants to the MCA-sponsored Economic Congress. The ill will they created has seen reaction by Malays calling for the withdrawal of their citizenship, even calling for the abolition of their citizenship right and that of their descendants, as a tit for tat. However, it should be realized that that, too, is seditious. Therefore no one should start anything seditious as such acts invariably attract counter actions and is not good for the country.

Section 3 (f) of the Act provides that “A seditious tendency is a tendency to question any matter, right, status, position, privilege, sovereignty or prerogative established or protected by the provisions of Part III of the Federal Constitution or Article 152, 153 or 181 of the Federal Constitution.” The pubic is well advised that the Act covers a wide range of subjects and everybody should be cautious when saying anything, so as not to appear “questioning” Bahasa Malaysia as the National Language, the Special Position of the Malays and the Bumiputeras of Sabah and Sarawak, and the citizenship of the non-Malays. Remember that questioning that of one race will lead to counter-questioning that of the other. The Special Position has always be regarded as the quid pro quo of the citizenship of the non-Malays, although, as the British Colonial Secretary had said in the British Parliament that the Malay Special Position has always been there “since day one”.

No action has been taken beyond DS Najib asking everybody to be careful with what they say because Najib wants the Chinese votes. Many people feel that the Congress participants were extremists, the MCA sponsors and endorsers were not responsible, and Najib too soft that people had become emboldened. However, the Police have started investigating on new cases of sedition, including the Namewee fellow, the MP for Teluk Intan and the MP for Lembah Pantai, as well as 1-2 others who were called to the Police Station.

Indeed, let’s have peace, harmony and mutual respect and avoid touching on others’ sensitivities. Let’s also call on Najib to be bold and affrontal, including to his own BN member, to nip in the bud the matter of questioning the Malay Special Position and the counter-questioning of the citizenship right of those people concerned.

Has Najib even seriously thought about his father’s legacy? Does he think about the fate of the Malays as much as his father did?

True he talks about political power. But more of his political power than Malay political power. Otherwise he would have shown the political will to protect, preserve and promote Malay rights and interests by ensuring that the NEP is fully retained in NEM. And clearly stating so.

In this matter perhaps Sakmongkol knows better. He is from the same state that both Tun A Razak and Dato Seri Najib hail from – Pahang. Though Najib is likely to have been born, raised and educated elsewhere. Tun Razak definitely left a strong legacy for the Malays, indeed, for Malaysia. The re-structuring of the Malaysian society with his rural development plans and the New Economic Policy enunciated by him after the 1969 racial riots will run into history forever.

One seriously wonders what legacy his son Najib would leave behind. We appreciate the problems of splintered votes he has been facing upon taking over from Pak Lah. But he was also a lot responsible for those problems as he was the Number 2 during Pak Lah’s “flip flopping, auto-piloting and sleepy rule”. Now he appears to let many of the conditions that prevail during those years continue. People can criticize what they like to the extent of being seditious. On top of that, he tried to sideline the NEP in the New Economic Model. He runs the risk of leaving behind a legacy of betraying his own race if he does not ensure the NEP continued fully in the NEM. The UMNO which he leads was set up to, and has for over 50 years been protecting and promoting the rights and interests of the Malays. He would be abandoning them if the NEP is not fully in the NEM.

He has to produce and show the Political Will to protect and promote the Malays as they are the down-trodden in their own country since British colonial days. No help or encouragement by the British for the Malays to do business the way the Chinese, who have it as a part of their culture, have been doing. They were not even provided with the kind of educational facilities that the Chinese were provided – ample schools at both the primary and secondary levels and in the English language – the key to success at that time. The Malays have been left far behind the Chinese, who now own vast wealth and control the economy of the country, yet want political power. Najib has to preserve and promote the Malay political power, not just his own power.

Doing so may be propagandised by the others as not being fully conducive to foreign investments and rapid economic development. But he needs not rush to economic advancement at the expense of the rights and interests of the Malays. He must remember that long-term unity and peace in this country depends on the restructuring of society, balancing the wealth and the educational advancement between the Malays, the majority of the population, and the Chinese, the minority in this country. Political stability may not be there, tension arising from huge wealth and educational disparities between the two communities. Foreign investments also depend on political stability. All told, he needs to muster the Political Will and show it.

“… the to-be-marginalized group … Even UMNO people are questioning his Malay credentials. He is more absorbed into showy PR exercises. He is eager to champion his new philosophy of 1 Malaysia where our ethnic and cultural diversity will be strategically leveraged.”

BTN officers have not learned a lesson from the outbreak of controversy over racist curriculum in December 2009, and the resignation of Datuk Nasir Safar, a former aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, over his racist remarks. They just continue blustering. It certainly is an act of indiscipline.

I support he says “How can a public service team with declining discipline executes major policies?”

The Execuitive must carry out the policies of the political masters. The Civil Service must respond to changing situations. The Sin Chew writer is right – there must be discipline “to promote economic restructuring”.

True, readers in bureaucracy will shoow that it is the duty of civil servants to carry out the policies of the political masters. Politicians should resign when they disagree on policy formulations within their own party. Civil servants should state their disagreement – which may be on grounds of national interest or serious repercussions to orderly development – but, having been heard by the political masters and, where the political masters insist on proceeding with the particular policy being or already decided, should carry out those policies.

The matter of discretion that exists as the prerogative of the civil servants has been explained in our reply to an earlier comment above. Connected with it, there is also the matter of being human and the personal stand of the civil servant. Ideally civil servants should not have their personal stand and inclinations affect their judgment or discretion. But the ideal does not exist the world over.

In the final analysis, the policies formulated by the political masters, or drafted by foreign consultants and adopted by them like the New Economic Model, must be seen by the civil servants as fair in order to have them implement them fully and to the letter. The NEM does not seem to be fair if it does not incorporate the New Economic Policy fully. The NEP was aimed at assisting the Malays catch up with the Chinese who own vast wealth and control the economy of the country. The target for Bumi corporate wealth was 30% and the Malays have achieved only 18%. Wealth in other aspects of the economy has not been calculated and no target has been set. Many of the civil servants / implementors surely see the anomaly or unfairness if the NEM does not carry the NEP fully. Their attitude in implementation may therefore be thereby affected.

All forms of indiscipline at whatever level must not be condoned. However, there are the racist remarks of politicians whose words and actions are more far reaching than those of officials in relatively insignificant positions. Some are even seditious. DAP Tony Pua touched on the Bumiputera housing discount and MCA Chua Soi Lek endorsed an MCA-sponsored Economic Congress to call for the abolition of the 30% Bumiputera equity target. That was very daring and very seditious. On both occasions, there were reactions calling for their citizenship right be abolished as well. All these don’t augur well for peace and harmony in this country.

Declining discipline appears to be all-encompassing in Malaysian society today. At Governmental, private organisations, groups and individual levels. People appear to be free with their words and actions since Pak Lah’s “flip flopping, auto-piloting and sleepy rule”. Hence, all sorts of crimes and offences are committed by the people. Loose morality has eaten into the moral fabric of Malaysian society. It sometimes seems there is more freedom in this country than even in the US which, after all, still practises ISA-like detention without trial in Guantanamo Bay. Yet, unlike the US, Malaysia is only 53 years after independence. And Malaysia is a young independent multi-racial country, with all sorts of sensitivities protected by laws like the Sedition Act 1948. Unfortunately, the current Prime Minister appears to be following the previous one – let things be. The citizenry, including those in public service, watch. Many to their chagrin, some to their joy and happiness because they can say what they want to say irrespective of the Sedition laws.

Those in public service must follow orders. But where the orders may not be clearly spelt out, they use their discretion. However clearly spelt out, there are always room for discretion to be applied. It’s a matter of interpretation. Where policies generally appear unfair, public servants may apply their discretion “on the side of fairness”. Hence, where they may be allowed the discretion to grant up to 10 of whatever is at issue, they may give only 5. This may be wrongly interpreted as indiscipline. In such instances the public servant may be purely exercising his discretion.

That situation is not even anywhere near the system called “work to rule”. The public servant is merely exercising his discretion. PM Najib has time and again asked the public servants to change, adapt to innovation, etc. One suspects he is finding difficulties in getting the full co-operation of the public service on the implementation of his policies. Politicians need to realise that their policies must be acceptable to those in the public service, the implementors. Especially when they break from tradition and ask foreigners to draw up an entire economic policy called the New Economic Model. Where the characteristics of New Economic Policy appear to have been abandoned, or sidelined. In exercising their discretion in areas where discretion may be allowed during implementation, public servants should not be regarded as being indisciplined.

How can …… simply cannot, man … how can you ask the Bumi 30% equity target be abolished ….. you gila ah? ……… sure the Bumis feel angry … sure many of them will ask how about abolishing their citizenship … like that no good lah

If you think doing that will bring more supporters like DAP, not true lah ….. Your Youth and Wanita Assembly attendance also very poor – 55 to 60% only … Solve your internal problems lah, your senator candidates issue and so on …

They have gone over the line. Touching on the sensitivity of the Malays in a very direct and frontal way. It’s below the belt, in boxing parlance. It’s drawing reciprocal or equivalent reaction, in political lingo – the asking for their citizenship be abolished as a tit for tat. All told, it’s not good for race relations, to say the least. It’s irresponsible for MCA to be taking that stand. They are bringing themselves down to the level of DAP. Hit everywhere, no matter what. Others may hit them back and they should not complain.

It’s not as if the Malays are taking away their right. The Malays have not asked that a tax be imposed on them for the purpose of affirmative action for the Malays. They can’t claim to be paying the most tax and that the tax they pay goes to the Malays. The tax contribution figures sourced from the Treasury / Inland Revenue were that they pay ony 30% tax, the GLCs 40%, the Malays and the others including foreigners 30%. And the tax they pay is also used for building the economic infrastructure of the country that has been largely used by them. Because the Chinese form the largest business community in the country. And make a lot of profit from enterprises thriving from using such infrastructure facilities.

The Prime Minister should use the Sedition Act on a few of them who were responsible for the Economic Congress resolution and the MCA leadership for endorsing that resolution and follow-up calls for the abolition of the 30% Bumi equity target. Doing so would deter the others from following suit. Otherwise the situation will linger on and the equivalent reaction too will continue unabated. We must avoid any flare up or even the heightening of racial tension. We need peace and harmony for economic development. The Chinese should know that the Emegency rule imposed for nearly 2 years after the racial riots of 1969 had affected business badly. Military involvement in maintenance of law and order will be stiff and strict. Shoot to kill orders for breaking curfews mean no going out during curfew hours. Apart from business losses, life would be miserable under those conditions. Let’s be sensible and avoid worsening of the existing ill feelings. The Government should haul in those calling for the 30% Bumi equity abolishment to court under the Sedition Act.

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